Arsenal Reportedly Scout 'Baby Messi' Ryan Gauld, Target of Liverpool, Man Utd

Never the club to be beaten without a fight when it comes to signing up-and-coming talent, sources suggest that Arsenal have jumped in on the act to try and sign Dundee United wonderkid Ryan Gauld.

The youngster is currently taking the Scottish Premier League by storm and has been dubbed "Mini Messi" thanks to his small stature and direct style of fast-paced football.

According to the Daily Mail Online's Mark Wilson, the 17-year-old will be scouted by the Gunners in Friday night's Scottish Cup fixture with Kilmarnock.

Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool are among those clubs mentioned to have already run the rule over Gauld in recent weeks, some of which were on hand to see the teenager grab no less than four assists in his club's 4-1 thrashing of Partick Thistle last weekend.

However, despite this substantial rise in interest, Gauld remains humble, and per Wilson's report, he recently commented on his comparisons with Barcelona's talisman in a television interview:

"

I don’t think anyone will ever be like Messi. The stuff he can do with a ball is a joke. I just wonder how he does the things he does. It goes through your head to try it and then you say: 'No, I’m not good enough.'

"

If anything, the ease with which Gauld shrugs off the wave of praise is a characteristic that will only enamour the starlet further among his admirers, who will undoubtedly find the humility to be an endearing trait.

New York Times' Scottish journalist Graham Ruthven is one of those currently buying into the youngster's talents:

In nine league starts for Dundee United so far this season, the 5'4" midfielder has four goals and five assists, averaging a direct hand in one goal per game, per Transfermarket.co.uk.

Arsene Wenger has developed a reputation for bringing talent through the Gunners academy, signing youngsters before guiding them through the club's methods.

Arsenal may have recently broken their transfer record with the summer signing of Mesut Ozil, but it seems the North Londoners aren't keen to lose their identity anytime soon.

Given the amount of intrigue that currently surrounds Gauld, it's very unlikely that we've heard the last of this story, which is gaining momentum with a number of European outfits attracted to the youngster's signature.

Although only just at the very cusp of his senior career, Gauld looks set to create waves for some time to come, with the Premier League vultures already circling his services.